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Upstart Colt Much the Best in Hot Spa Maiden; Garners Rising Stardom

The Saratoga opener Saturday was one of those vintage events in which virtually every firster was touted as a runner, and it was Klaravich Stables, Inc.’s Reinvestment Risk (Upstart) who emerged as the best of the bunch while becoming his freshman sire (by Flatter)’s third winner and first ‘TDN Rising Star’. A $140,000 FTKJUL yearling turned $280,000 OBS March acquisition off a strong :20 4/5 breeze, the bay joined the Chad Brown barn at Payson Park this spring before stints at Monmouth and most recently locally.

Off at 4-1, he broke in midpack and was pushed along by Irad Ortiz, Jr. to grab a foothold at the rail just off the pace. Second timer Windcracker (Super Saver) showed increased speed to seize a clear lead through an opening quarter of :22.79, but he left the rail open for Reinvestment Risk turning for home and the colt came through willingly to take over after a :46.14 half. The race was won at that point, and Reinvestment Risk poured it on in the stretch to run up the score to 7 3/4 lengths and stop the clock in1:09.95 after finishing up in a snappy :23.72. Windcracker held on for second over Olympiad (Speightstown–Tokyo Time), the seemingly less fancied half of a 7-5 entry with eighth-place finisher Outlier (Not This Time).

Upstart was a 5 1/2-length debut winner at Saratoga himself before adding the Funny Cide S. for New York-breds here nine days later for owner Ralph Evans and the late Rick Violette, Jr.–who at one point campaigned many of Klaravich’s most precocious babies. Twice Grade I-placed to complete his juvenile season, Upstart added the GII Fountain of Youth S. at three and GIII Razorback H. at four before retiring to Airdrie Stud. In addition to his three winners, Upstart is responsible to Belterra’s Hoover S. runner-up Uptown.

Reinvestment Risk was one of two Upstart colts purchased by agent Mike Ryan at OBS March–he also bought $600,000 Founder, who is training towards his own debut up at the Spa, for fellow Chad Brown clients Jeff Drown and Don Rachel.

Reinvestment Risk is the second foal out of a four-time winning daughter or Candy Ride (Arg) who was acquired by breeder Gerry Aschinger for just $6,000 at the 2016 Keeneland January sale. Dam Ridingwiththedevil, who’s out of a half-sister to MGSW My List (Banker’s Gold), produced a Strong Mandate filly in 2019 and Stormy Atlantic colt earlier this term before being bred to Audible for 2021.

1st-Saratoga, $72,000, Msw, 8-1, 2yo, 6f, 1:09.95, ft.
REINVESTMENT RISK, c, 2, Upstart
                1st Dam: Ridingwiththedevil, by Candy Ride (Arg)
                2nd Dam: One Charming Devil, by Devil His Due
                3rd Dam: Enduring Charm, by Batonnier
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $39,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. ThoroStride Video.
O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Aschinger Bloodstock Holdings, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. *$140,000 Ylg ’19 FTKJUL; $280,000 2yo ’20 OBSMAR

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Former Jumps Jockey Mellor Dies

Stan Mellor, who was the first jumps jockey to ride 1,000 winners, has died aged 83.

Mellor retired from the saddle in 1972 after riding 1,034 winners and went on to a successful training career with jumps and flat horses, training more than 700 winners.

Brough Scott, who started as an amateur rider when Mellor was in his prime and has since gone on to a career in sports writing and broadcasting, paid tribute to his former colleague, saying, “He was a pioneer and a mentor, and a worker for other people. But he was a brilliant, brilliant champion jockey–the ultimate brain over brawn. He could do things others couldn’t–people have a particular shot they can play in cricket, or a move at football. Stan Mellor, wow. He was amazing.

“His particular thing, over fences–to do with his show-jumping background–he would wind a horse up and launch it at the last fence with a rhythm and power that would be a match-winning leap. They never missed–he had it down to a tee, and when he wound them up like that, he knew what he had beneath him, and he timed it for an unbelievable match-winning blow. It was absolutely extraordinary, a byword–no one else did it like that.”

Scott said Mellor also enjoyed mentoring young riders and advocating for jockeys’ welfare.

“He did more for jockeys than anyone else has ever done, or ever will,” he said. “At the time when jockeys were only just getting themselves organised, he was the pioneer for everything; new helmets, backpads, concrete posts, insurance. The Jockeys’ Association had only just started, but he’d be the brightest person at the meeting with the head of Levy Board and such.

“He was very, very good at training youngsters. He always wanted to share his knowledge–he was a tremendous person to go and talk to. I’ll rejoice in his life, although it’s infinitely sad to think of him not being there any more.”

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Aug. 2 Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

WELL-RELATED JUVENILES MEET AT ELLIS

5th-ELP, $37K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 3:42p.m.

KING FURY (Curlin) is the most expensive of the several well-related juveniles making their career bows in this test as a $950,000 FTSAUG purchase. He is the first and only foal out of the late Grade I winner Taris (Flatter), a $2.35-million FTKNOV buy. His second dam Comedy, a $1.5-million KEENOV buy, also produced SW & MGSP Theatre Star (War Front). Dale Romans unveils the latest offspring out of blue hen C.S. Royce (Unbridled’s Song), who has been very good for his stable, in Loumo (Uncle Mo). The colt is a half-sister to GI Preakness S. runner-up Cherry Wine (Paddy O’Prado), GSW Sweeping Paddy (Paddy O’Prado) and SW C.S. Incharge (Take Charge Indy). Whitham Thoroughbreds homebred Milliken (Into Mischief) is out of another very productive mare. Ivory Empress is also the dam of MGSW & GISP McCraken (Ghostzapper), GSW Four Graces (Majesticperfection) and MGSP Bondurant (War Front). Ian Wilkes saddles that colt, as well as $340,000 KEENOV buy Bourbon Thunder (Quality Road), who is out of a half-sister to GISW Summer Colony (Summer Squall). TJCIS PPs

BROWN UNVEILS PRICEY UNCLE MO FILLY

6th-SAR, $72K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 4:04p.m.

Peter Brant went to $575,000 at KEESEP to acquire MO DEAN (Uncle Mo), who makes her first trip to the post in this test. Her dam is a half-sister to GSW Mo Tom (Uncle Mo), SW & MGISP Beautician (Dehere), MGSW Red Ruby (Tiznow) and SW Bella Castani (Big Brown). Woodslane Farm homebred Malibu Curl (Curlin) also debuts in this spot. She hails from the family of MGISW A.P. Indian (Indian Charlie), MGSW Doctor Mounty (Street Sense) and GSW Tiz Shea D (Tiznow). TJCIS PPs

EXPENSIVE MEDAG FILLY DEBUTS IN SOCAL

7th-DMR, $55K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, 8:00p.m.

Richard Mandella unveils a pricey daughter of Medaglia d’Oro in MOONLIGHT D’ORO. Her second dam is GSW Moonlight Sonata (Carson City), who is the dam of graded winners Wilburn (Bernardini) ands Beethoven (Sky Mesa) and stakes winner & GSP LA Appasionata (Bernardini). Fellow Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer saddles another intriguing firster in Frosted Blue (Frosted). Out of GISP Sister Girl Blues (Hold for Gold), she is a half-sister to GSW & MGISP Firing Line (Line of David). He also hails from the family of Grade I winners Bowie’s Hero (Artie Schiller) and Sharp Azteca (Freud). TJCIS PPs

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Virtual Learning For Vets: Webinar Series On Common Equine Ailments

Britain's Royal Veterinary College will offer hour-long live webinars to give equine practitioners the most up-to-date information on an assortment of equine ailments. The webinars will be presented by Drs. Andy Fiske-Jackson and Justin Perkins, senior lecturers in surgery at the Royal Veterinary College. The series will provide information and use examples to teach viewers.

The webinars include:

Sept. 9: The Abnormal Larynx: Options when a horse makes a noise
Sept. 16: Sarcoids: Effective treatment options for the various types of sarcoids, including budget and physical location considerations.
Sept. 21: Headshaking: Arriving at a diagnosis, differentiating between true headshaking and behavioral issues and treatment options.
Sept. 30: Wound management: The latest advances in wound healing, as well as beneficial topical therapies.
Oct. 7: Lameness: Which leg hurts, which block to use, management and outcome

The webinars can be bought individually or as a package; recorded webinars will be available after the completion of the last in the series.